"Finally, I suspect that it is by entering that deep place inside us where our secrets are kept that we come perhaps closer than we do anywhere else to the One who, whether we realize it or not, is of all our secrets the most telling and the most precious we have to tell." Frederick Buechner

Come in! Come in!

"If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a Hope-er, a Pray-er, a Magic Bean buyer; if you're a pretender, come sit by my fire. For we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!" -- Shel Silverstein

Thursday, July 09, 2015

Owen Thomas: The Priestly Potter

Priestly formation.

When I first heard the term I was young and arrogant enough to think that the term itself was pretty arrogant. At least, to my young ears.

I thought, since God calls priests, God must form them. Right?

Well, I've come to understand that God sends people into your life to help shape and form "a priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 7:13-17). Some help to shape the heart of a priest. Others help to form the mind. Still others assist by nourishing the soul. And, if you're really fortunate, some do all three. Some are ordained. Most are not. Many are not even Christian but, whether they know it or intend to - or not - they follow the teachings of Jesus. In so doing, they provide role models and icons to seeing and knowing God more clearly.

Others - many of whom are ordained and think themselves pious and holy and learned - provide perfect examples of how NOT to be priest.

Some can be found in church or church-related agencies like seminaries or at hospitals or psychiatric facilities during Clinical Pastoral Education, or internships at food banks or homeless shelters or transitional housing agencies and domestic violence shelters. But, many of them have nothing to do with church. They are members of God's creation. Some are two-legged. Some four-legged. And, some are winged.

I call them "priestly potters".

They take the lump of willing clay of those the church calls 'aspirants' and help to shape and form them into a vessel of God's message of mercy and justice and hope.

Some are as gentle as the kiss of a butterfly's wing. They lead you into insights and plumb the depths of wisdom you didn't know you had that are often only discernible years after the encounter.

Others are as rough as sand paper, literally annoying and frustrating you until you fear you may lose your mind. It is, however, at what Martin Smith called the "crucifyingly obscure boundaries of faith" that you learn things about yourself and the human enterprise you'd never learn any other way.

One of my blessed spiritual directors called that "Divine Sandpaper" - people who come into your life and literally rub you the wrong way.

"How else," she asked, "would your natural grain come through so you could shine with authenticity?"I was prompted to reflect on these priestly potters when I recently learned of the death of a beloved former seminary professor at the Episcopal Divinity School.

Owen Thomas was my Systematic Theology professor. That assignment provided him, I have no doubt, a Herculean effort if ever there was one. I mean, teaching someone like me something like theology is not for the faint of heart.

Systematic Theology? Well, let's just say that as developed as the left side of his brain was, my left brain was underdeveloped to the same degree. Perhaps even more.

I don't even really understand how radio transmission works, much less the technology behind the laptop on which I'm writing this, and he worked in the Naval Research Lab in Washington on advanced radar. Not just radar. Advanced radar. Indeed, he was in a doctoral program in Physics at Cornell when WWII broke out.

He also had a doctorate in Philosophy from Columbia University and another from Union Theological School. Our kids called him "Mr. Spock". His affect was pretty flat and he spoke in a maddening monotone, both of which sent this highly emotive Portuguese woman into a tailspin.I have no doubt I provided him with an equal but different challenge.

See also: Divine Sandpaper.

He caught up with me in line at the refectory one morning, after I was lector at Morning Prayer. I have long forgotten the particular passage I read, but his criticism was that I ought not read with so much . . . he paused, searching for the right word . . "expression," he said, because I was, in fact, "interpreting the text," which, he assured me, was not the job of a lector.

I do remember telling him that I could no sooner read without expression than . . . than . .. (looking at the breakfast buffet) ... why, eat those blasted grits without a ton of butter and lots of salt and pepper. I remember him looking at me with that maddeningly blank look, and then, as a wonderfully silly smile began to cross his face, his eyes lit up and he said, in perfect monotone, "Well, grits are pretty bland, I'll give you that much." I was so delighted to see him smile and his eyes light up that I burst into laughter (Those of you who know me will know that I am incapable of a demure little giggle).

He was so startled by it he couldn't help himself and joined in. We stood there, blocking the breakfast line for a few minutes, in one of the best laughs either of us had had in a long time. I fell in love with him that very moment. We had breakfast together during which he told me about his own call to priesthood. After the war, he was very disillusioned by the loss of so many of his friends. The emptiness of war filled him with questions about God and he found himself searching for answers at the (then) Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA. And (much to his surprise), seeking ordination in The Episcopal Church.

He came back, eventually, to teach at EDS. He was there for forty years.

Owen wrote many books but there were two, in particular, which helped me enormously.

The first is "Introduction to Theology" which did two things simultaneously. First, it gave an overview of theology - the what, why and wherefore of the enterprise. And then, it broke things down into bite-sized pieces so I could more easily digest it.

I passed all seven canonical areas of my General Ordination Exams. Which was, in a word, a miracle. I am absolutely convinced that it was because of these two books.

That, and my one and only prayer was answered.

I prayed for good readers.

And, I got them. Thanks be to God.

But, I also had Owen Thomas, in whose hands I entrusted part of my priestly formation.

My trust was not misplaced.

I would not be the priest I am today without his guidance and instruction.

I have come to know that while it does, in fact, take a village to raise a child, it also takes one to raise and then shape and form a priest.

And, I can tell you from personal experience, that that formation continues long after one has "mastered divinity" and the ordination ceremony has ended.

Many people have many different opinions about what constitutes a "good" priestly formation. I have my own "recipe" for the "priestly potter's clay".It is this:

Take equal parts of intellectual stimulation, transformative pastoral care and a creative, imaginative spirit, add several heaping spoonfuls of challenge, a few healthy dollops of questioning and doubt, and several cups of tears and sorrow. Pour into a broken and contrite heart, mixing well with an abiding love for all of God's creation, and a deep passion for God's justice and mercy. Whisk together over some 'fire in the belly' for the painstakingly slow work of finding and creating the "thin spaces" in the world. Fold mixture into the intersection of the sacred and the profane, garnish with a keen appreciation for the absurd and sprinkle liberally with laughter and joy. Allow priestly potters to work with the basic clay mixture until shaped and formed to the glory of God.

Thank you, Owen, for you invaluable contributions. You were a wonderful priestly potter. Your memory will always be a blessing to me.

Thomas,
Reverend Owen C. Passed away on June 29, 2015 at The Berkshire
Retirement Community in Berkeley, California. Owen Clark Thomas was born
in 1922 in New York City and grew up in Port Washington, New York. He
graduated from Hamilton College in upstate New York, and studied Physics
in graduate school at Cornell as World War II
broke out. During the war, he worked in the Naval Research Lab in
Washington on advanced radar. After the war, in which many of his
friends died, he re-thought his vocation and entered the Episcopal
Theological School in Cambridge. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest
in 1950, and completed his doctorate in Philosophy at Columbia and Union
Theological Seminary in 1955. Dr. Thomas taught Theology and Philosophy
at the (renamed) Episcopal Divinity School for over forty years,
retiring in 1993, and is the author of ten books. He also served as the
summer rector at Emmanuel Church in Dublin, New Hampshire for 22 years.
Dr. Thomas was a lifelong, liberal Democrat, member of the ADA and
Cambridge Democratic City Committee. He is survived by his wife of 34
years, Margaret Miles, of Berkeley, California; three sons by his former
wife, Bernice Lippitt Thomas - Aaron Beecher Thomas of Seattle; Addison
Lippitt Thomas of Oakland; and Owen Clark Thomas, Jr. of Brasilia,
Brazil - five grandchildren and one great-grandson. A memorial service
for Dr. Thomas will be held at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Albany,
CA on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.

- See more at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=owen-c-thomas&pid=175214146&fhid=10654#sthash.odJ7sOQB.dp

Thomas,
Reverend Owen C. Passed away on June 29, 2015 at The Berkshire
Retirement Community in Berkeley, California. Owen Clark Thomas was born
in 1922 in New York City and grew up in Port Washington, New York. He
graduated from Hamilton College in upstate New York, and studied Physics
in graduate school at Cornell as World War II
broke out. During the war, he worked in the Naval Research Lab in
Washington on advanced radar. After the war, in which many of his
friends died, he re-thought his vocation and entered the Episcopal
Theological School in Cambridge. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest
in 1950, and completed his doctorate in Philosophy at Columbia and Union
Theological Seminary in 1955. Dr. Thomas taught Theology and Philosophy
at the (renamed) Episcopal Divinity School for over forty years,
retiring in 1993, and is the author of ten books. He also served as the
summer rector at Emmanuel Church in Dublin, New Hampshire for 22 years.
Dr. Thomas was a lifelong, liberal Democrat, member of the ADA and
Cambridge Democratic City Committee. He is survived by his wife of 34
years, Margaret Miles, of Berkeley, California; three sons by his former
wife, Bernice Lippitt Thomas - Aaron Beecher Thomas of Seattle; Addison
Lippitt Thomas of Oakland; and Owen Clark Thomas, Jr. of Brasilia,
Brazil - five grandchildren and one great-grandson. A memorial service
for Dr. Thomas will be held at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Albany,
CA on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.

- See more at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=owen-c-thomas&pid=175214146&fhid=10654#sthash.odJ7sOQB.dpuf

6 comments:

For a time he and his wife, Margaret Miles (former President of Harvard Divinity School), attended St. John's, Bowdoin St. where I was seminarian. I loved seeing them in the congregation. He so obviously adored her.

Margaret Miles was also a marvel. They adored each other. I should note that I wrote this in part because I was so thoroughly disappointed with the Obituary in the Boston Globe and especially the perfunctory one at EDS. I know it's summer, but JEEZE! Anyway, he was one of my shape-ers and form-ers. I owe so much to him. So many do.

Remind me to get you to do my obit...oh, wait, I won't be able to do so.... Anyway, yours of Owen was just fine. All of us who had him as teacher and friend have stories, and I only wish we could all have time together to share them. Thanks for doing this. M.

Mark, darling, I will not do your Obit and I hate to even thing about the necessity of that, but you can rest assured that, when either of us goes home to Jesus there will be much telling of stories and laugher and drinking of bourbon. Love you madly.

Follow Telling Secrets by Email

Search This Blog

Translation, please

I Am Episcopalian

Episcopal News Service

Wordle

No Anglican Covenant Blog (click on image to visit website)

Telling Secrets

The opinions expressed in this Blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Episcopal Church or any of the Episcopal Churches I serve, the Dioceses of Newark or Delaware, or those of any local, national or other organizations I serve. If you wish to reproduce anything written here or link to another site, you may only do so with the express permission of the author, and only with appropriate attribution.

"Plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source."

PLEASE NOTE: If you have a difficult truth to tell, please do so in the comment section, but identify yourself, please.

If you want to say a painful truth or provide something helpful but, for various reasons, need to remain anonymous, I completely understand and encourage you to leave comments.

However, I do not support cowards, gutter snipes and blowhards.

No mean-spirited, uncharitable, ANONYMOUS comments will be reproduced here.

About Me

I am a joyful Christian who claims the fullness of the Anglican tradition of being evangelical, Anglo-Catholic, charismatic, orthodox and radical. Since 1991, my canonical residence has been the Diocese of Newark, where I was a member of the Women's Commission (since 1993), the Department of Missions (2 terms), The Commission on Ministry (1 term), The Standing Committee (4 years, one as President). I served as an elected Deputy to General Convention in 2000, 2003, and 2006. I have served as a board member of Integrity, USA, and as a founding member of Claiming The Blessing. I am national Convener of The Episcopal Women's Caucus, and am now member of the national board of RCRC. I attended the Lambeth Conference in 1998 and 2008 representing EWC. I graduated in May 2008 from Drew with my doctorate in Pastoral Care and Counseling and was Proctor Fellow at EDS, Spring Semester 2011. I am a GOE reader. I consult and counsel at Canterbury Pastoral Care Center in Harbeson, DE.

Followers

Franciscan Four Fold Blessing

Cartoon church?

Facebook Badge

Quotes from some of my favorite Bloggers and Friends

"How can you initiate someone and then treat them like a half-assed baptized?" - The Rt Rev Barbara Harris

Those who know the deep acceptance and love that come with healing and forgiveness can lose the defensive veneer that wants to shut out other sinners. They discover that covering their hair or hiding their tears or hoarding their rich perfume isn't the way that the beloved act, even if it makes others nervous. Katharine Jefferts Schori at Southwarck Cathedral, UK June 13, 2010

"If you have never been called a defiant, incorrigible, impossible woman … have faith … there is yet time." ~ From Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

If you want to protect Holy Wedlock, by all means padlock the church door whenever guys who love Judy Garland come-a-knocking. But if you want to protect marriage push for a constitutional amendment to ban divorce.

And . . . If that wasn't outrageous enough for you, there's this:

From where I sit, the entire Republican Party should head to OZ – looking for a brain, a heart and a pair of testicles.Helen Philipot

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas MertonEileen the Episcopalifem

"I can only conclude that the social contract that binds us all together in such a single unlikely country is greater than each of us who make it up." Counterlight.

"There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity . . .You can smell it. It smells like death."Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Lord, take me where You want me to go, let me meet who You want me to meet, tell me what You want me to say, and keep me out of Your way. Amen.Fr. Mychal Judge, OFM, Chaplain, NYFD, First official recorded victim 9/11 attack

"You can call the dogs in, wet the fire, and leave the house. The hunt's over." James Carville after the 2nd Presidential Debate

"Literalism in any form is little more than pious hysteria."John Shelby Spong, Bishop of Newark, retired

"Start where you are.Use what you have.Do what you can."Arthur Ashe.

"Ask for help when you need it. Take it graciously when it comes. Try not to be disappointed when it doesn't. Be thankful for something every day. Do something for someone else as a way of saying thank you for your life."John R. Souza